Michele Fiore: Donald Trump pulls out the pardon pen for gun-toting former Vegas councilwoman

Washington D.C.: Donald Trump has pardoned Michele Fiore, a former Las Vegas councilwoman and Nevada state lawmaker who was convicted of fraud in federal court last year, for using more than $70,000 in donations intended to pay for a statue of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty for her own personal expenses.

The pardon was filed in court on Thursday, days before Fiore was set to be sentenced on six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Fiore has a history legal troubles. One of Fiore's earliest controversies came in 2014 when she made national news for suggesting that cancer patients should have the freedom to try non-FDA-approved treatments. She also sparked backlash for remarks about gun control, including statements that she carried firearms regularly and supported arming school staff.

In 2015, her “Christmas card” photo featuring her family armed with assault rifles caused quite the outrage. Around the same time, she was removed from her leadership position in the Assembly following reports of financial mismanagement related to her businesses and campaign funds.

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In 2016, she publicly supported the Amon Bundy family during their armed standoff with federal agents in Oregon, even traveling to the site to mediate.

More recently, Fiore faced ethics investigations during her time on the Las Vegas City Council. In 2022, she was fined $3,500 by the Nevada Commission on Ethics for failing to disclose conflicts of interest involving city grants tied to her personal and political allies.

Fiore ran unsuccessfully for Nevada lieutenant governor in 2022.